Panjabi MC is a British-Indian recording artist, rapper, producer and DJ. He is widely known for his classic bhangra hits, such as Dhol Jageero Da, Mundian To Bach Ke Rahi, Jatt Ho Gya Sharabi, and Morni, in numerous albums.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Panjabi MC was born as Rajinder Singh Rai on Wednesday, 14 February 1973 (age 51; as of 2024) in Coventry, Warwickshire, England. His zodiac sign is Aquarius. He was passionate about music since childhood and later shifted to London to pursue a music career.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 7”
Weight (approx.): 75 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family & Caste
He belongs to an immigrant Jatt Sikh family settled in England.
Parents & Siblings
Rajinders’s parents were Punjabi immigrants who settled in the industrial town of Coventry, England. His father was a spray-painter at the Jaguar automobile factory and later owned an Indian textile shop. He has a brother who reportedly lives in the United States of America. [1]The New York Times
Wife & Children
There is not much information about his wife and children.
Career
Panjabi MC signed a contract with Nachural Records, followed by the success of a remix of Kuldeep Manak‘s song “Ghariah Milan De,” even though the song was later taken off the market. His other successful song was, Mundian To Bach Ke, released in 1998 on an album, Legalised. The song’s samples were taken from, Knight Rider, the 1980 television show featuring David Hasselhoff and a talking car. Panjabi MC recalled the show and said,
Like all kids I wanted that car, but I was always equally amazed that the theme song had an Eastern rhythm,”
The song has been featured in various TV shows and movies including Bend It Like Beckham (2002), The White Tiger (2020), and in an episode of the television show Queer as Folk. He remixed the song Pyar Wich and the American hip-hop song Planet Rock, on the album before the recording of, Indian Planet Rock by Afrika Bambaataa.
Legalised album released in 1998
In 2001, his album Dhol Jageero Da was released with Moviebox Record Label. The album was a huge success, especially the song Dhol Jageero Da from the album, sung by Master Saleem.
Dhol Jageero Da 2001
His song Jatt Ho Giya Sharabee from the album Beware, was released in 2003 and was a blockbuster hit. It has also been featured in the American television show Heroes. The song’s samples were taken from the TV show Magnum, P.I. In this album, The song Mundian To Bach Ke was again released and featured American rapper Jay-Z, titled ‘Beware of the Boys.’
Beware album 2003
In 2008, his album Indian Timing was released, and while recording, he used vocal samples from Ofra Haza’s ‘Im Nin’Alu.’ The music video of the ‘Snake Charmer’ song from the album was displayed at Deejay Ra’s music video night in Toronto at the FILMI festival, North America’s longest-running South Asian film festival.
Indian Timing Album 2008
His other noticeable work included the remix of the popular song ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ along with Sukhwinder Singh and Sapna Awasthi. The song featured in the Hollywood movie Inside Man as background music during the opening credits. He recorded the song ‘Land of Five Rivers,’ used by the WWE wrestler, The Great Khali as an entrance song. He made his Bollywood debut with the film, ‘Mere Dad Ki Maruti’ released in 2013, and lent his voice to the song, Haaay!’, played in the opening credits scene. [2]Yash Raj Films
Awards
- MTV Europe Music Awards – Best Dance Act – “Panjabi MC” (2003)
Panjabi MC with his MTV Music Award in 2003
- MOBO Awards – Best UK Ac (2003)
- UK Asian Music Awards – Best Single Bhangra – “Mundian To Bach Ke” (2003)
- World Music Awards – World’s Best Indian Artist (2003)
- Punjabi Music Awards – Best Sound Recording – “Moorni” (2011)
- Brit Asia TV Music Awards – Best Single – “Moorni” and Best Asian Music Producer (2011)
- Brit Asia TV Music Awards – Outstanding Achievement (2018)
Car Collection
He is fond of high-end cars and has owned some vintage classic cars in his garage.
Panjabi MC’s post on Instagram about his old cars
Favourites
- Food: Aloo Paratha
- Artists: Bob Marley, James Brown, Gurdas Mann
Facts/Trivia
- The song Mundian To Bach Ke became popular on music channels worldwide after Panjabi MC came on the British music show Top of the Pops.
- Panjabi MC made his Canadian premiere at the Payal Banquet Hall in Mississauga, Ontario in 2001.
- The name ‘Panjabi MC’ was given to him by rappers from the black community in the early 1990s. [3]The Guardian
- Panjabi MC bought a sampler with the money meant for his university education.
- He runs a chilli sauce venture by the name of ‘Bach Ke Chilli – Beware of the sauce.’ [4]Bach Ke Chilli
Bach Ke – Beware of the SAUCE 🌶️
Introducing the sizzling sensation inspired by Panjabi MC’s iconic “Beware of the Boys” hit with the famous sound of the tumbi… 🎵 #chillisauce pic.twitter.com/JhR5Ho4LEl
— Panjabi MC (@PanjabiMC1) November 17, 2023
- The Muslim community banned Panjabi MC’s first release, Rootz, due to cultural issues.
- Panjabi MC lost 90% of the publishing share to the Universal Music Group, as he didn’t have the publishing rights for the song ‘Mundia to Bach Ke.’
References
| ↑1 | The New York Times |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Yash Raj Films |
| ↑3 | The Guardian |
| ↑4 | Bach Ke Chilli |
